IP Library Granted Patent US 11,454,292
Granted Patent B2
US 11,454,292 · App. 16/993,889 · Granted Sep 27, 2022

Damper assembly

Inventor: Stefan Deferme (Heusden-Zolder, BE)
Assignee: DRiV Automotive Inc.
F16F9/065F16F9/3271F16F9/34F16F9/369F16F9/512B60G2202/24B60G2206/41B60G2206/8201B60G2500/10B60G2800/162F16F9/062F16F2222/12F16F2226/048F16F2228/066
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,454,292
App. No.
16/993,889
Granted
Sep 27, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A damper assembly includes a damper, an accumulator, and a tube mount. The damper includes a tube having an outer surface. The tube defines a central axis and a first cavity in the outer surface. The accumulator has an end defining a second cavity. The accumulator defines a longitudinal axis. The tube mount is attached to the outer surface of the tube around the first cavity. The tube includes a damper fluid. The end of the accumulator is supported by the tube mount to allow the damper fluid to flow from the tube through the first cavity and into the accumulator through the second cavity. The longitudinal axis of the accumulator is transverse to the central axis of the tube.

Claims (28)

1. A damper assembly, comprising:

a damper including a tube having an outer surface, the tube defining a central axis and a first cavity in the outer surface;

an accumulator having an end defining a second cavity, the end having a convex outer surface, the accumulator defining a longitudinal axis; and

a tube mount attached to the outer surface of the tube around the first cavity;

wherein the tube includes a damper fluid;

wherein the end of the accumulator is supported by the tube mount to allow the damper fluid to flow from the tube through the first cavity and into the accumulator through the second cavity;

wherein the longitudinal axis of the accumulator is transverse to the central axis of the tube at a non-right angle;

wherein the tube mount includes a ring and the accumulator is supported by the ring at the convex outer surface of the end of the accumulator, the ring being in fluid communication with the first cavity and the second cavity allowing damper fluid to flow from the first cavity to the second cavity through the ring.

2. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator is rotatable within the tube mount to a specified orientation.

3. The damper assembly of claim 2 , wherein, in the specified orientation, the longitudinal axis of the accumulator defines an angle with an axis normal to the outer surface of the tube, the angle being greater than ten degrees and less than twenty degrees.

4. The damper assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a valve supported by the outer surface of the tube.

5. The damper assembly of claim 4 , wherein the damper fluid is movable from the tube through the valve.

6. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the damper includes a rod movable within the tube.

7. The damper assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rod is arranged to move the damper fluid through the tube and into the accumulator.

8. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the accumulator defines an angle with an axis normal to the outer surface of the tube, the angle being greater than zero degrees and less than ninety degrees.

9. The damper assembly of claim 8 , wherein the angle is greater than ten degrees and less than twenty degrees.

10. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein:

the first cavity and the ring are coaxial on an axis perpendicular to the central axis of the tube;

the second cavity of the accumulator is on the longitudinal axis of the accumulator; and

the longitudinal axis of the accumulator is transverse to the axis of the first cavity and the ring and the longitudinal axis extends through the ring.

11. The damper assembly of claim 10 , wherein the convex outer surface of the end of the accumulator is welded to the ring.

12. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the convex outer surface of the end of the accumulator is welded to the ring.

13. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the tube mount and the end of the accumulator form a fluid-tight seal.

14. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring and the convex outer surface of the end of the accumulator form a substantially circular seal.

15. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator includes a piston and the damper fluid is movable into the accumulator to move the piston.

16. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the damper fluid is movable from the tube into the accumulator along the longitudinal axis.

17. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis extends in a downward direction.

18. The damper assembly of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the tube has a curvature and the tube mount has substantially a same curvature as the outer surface of the tube.

Assignments (12)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 20, 2025
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: ADVANCED SUSPENSION TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 072553/0175 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Apr 7, 2023
From: TENNECO INC.; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 063268/0506 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 22, 2022
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 061989/0689 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061975/0031 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061971/0156 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 19, 2022
From: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 061833/0619 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Mar 17, 2021
From: TENNECO INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 055626/0065 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 1, 2020
From: TENNECO INC.; THE PULLMAN COMPANY; FEDERAL-MOGUL IGNITION LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL POWERTRAIN LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL PRODUCTS US LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL MOTORPARTS LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL WORLD WIDE LLC; FEDERAL-MOGUL CHASSIS LLC; DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.; TENNECO AUTOMOTIVE OPERATING COMPANY INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 054555/0592 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 1, 2020
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053941/0330 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2020
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053876/0892 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2020
From: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053876/0687 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 14, 2020
From: DEFERME, STEFAN
To: DRIV AUTOMOTIVE INC.
Reel/Frame 053504/0663 →